Display device



Feb. 1, 1966 R. A. KRAuss 3331,995

DIsPLAY DEVICE Filed June 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmp' 2781145.. Krause W* :www

Feb. 1, 1966 R. A. KRAuss 3,23l,996

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 18, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (By/3A' .fm /u w [IZ '113 United States Patent vO 3,231,996 w w DISPLAY DEVICE Robert A. 'Krauss, 11700 lShore 'Cliff Lane, Mequon, Wis. Filed June 18, `1963,'Ser. No. 288,733- 2 claims. '(o1.-40-'1s2) This invention relates to .display devices and 'has .as 'its purpose to provide an inexpensiveiattractive display made essentially of relatively stiif paperboard and characterized by the 'fact that the ldevice may 'be kntzfcked down into a flat vcondition permitting. the sare 'to be 'store'd and shipped flat or, if desired, in a rolled up condition.

It is also the purpose and'object ofthislinventionto'provide a display device of .the character described which is easy to set up and, when set up, is a three-di'men'sional structure fully self-"supporting andstable.

Another object of this invention 'is to jp'rovfide Ja display 'device having a front 'indicia-be'aring panel .and a Lback panel which rnay mount an electriclbulb socket so oriented that a 'light bulb 'screwed into it is located behind the front panel to 'attrac'tively v'illumina-te the display.

Another object of this invention is toprovide a=display device of the character described which `is characterized by the fact that 'it 'has 'a flat 'front panel bearin'g indicia to be 'disp'layed, and 'a bowed rearflpanel'so `connected to the front panel that 'it holds the `'latter taut.

A still further object of this invention 'is `to'provide a display device having the characteristics stated in the directly preceding object, but 'further 'characterized 'by the fact that the bowed `'back panel may 1mbe equipped with an integral bracket-forming portion to thus enable the display device to stand with ,one of 'the straight'edgesof its *bowed back panel at the bottom and 'the 'other at *the'top' A `still lfurther 'object 'of this invention is to 'provide a display device 'with 1a 1bowed 'back panel as aforesaid, and wherein the bowed back panel is adapted to be readily detachably connected to 'altubular handle, enablin'g the display device to be mounted'or'carried'aboutas 'a placard.

With the above `and 'other objects in lview which will appear 4as the description 'proceeds, this ``invention resides in the novel construction, combination land arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter describedjtand more particularly defined by the appended -c`laims, it being =understood 'that such changes in the precisei'embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may lbe 'made` -as come within the scope of the claims. o o

The accompanying draw'ings `illustrate several complete examples of the physical -embodirnents fof -the invention, constructed according to the best modes 'so Sfar devised for the practical application-of the princip'les there'o'f, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspecti-ve view of a display Idevice constructed in accordance -witih ``this invention, with a p'ortion thereof broken away to ibetter 'illustrate the same;

FIGURE '2 is a perspective view showing how the display deviceof FIGURE 1 'may be "fiknocked fdown and disposed in a flat |condition to facilitate storage yandshipment;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view 'of the `'same *display device shown in FIGUR'ES 1 andjZ, buttshowing `tthe'sarne 3,23 1,995 Patented Feb. 1:, 1966 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view taken :from `'the back of still another modified -embodiment-of the t-invention;

-F'IGURE 6 lis a perspect-ive view of another form of hte invention which `adapts the display :device for mounting upon a carrying handle, said view being ltaken 'from the back; o

FIGURE 6A is a view of the display 'deviceof FIGURE 6 shown in 'its rflat kno'ckeddowncondition and without the handle; `FIGURE 7 is anvenlarged detail cross-sectional view through the -junction vof -the'contiguous edges of thefront and back panels, and illustrating one way in which these edges may be separably connected; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 'but Villustratinganother way of separab'ly connecting the .front and rearpanels. 1

Referring now 'particularly lto the accompanying drawings, the `numeral '10 represents generally the :display device `of this invention. As Vshown -in the drawings, the display device may be embodied in various forms, but -in all instances it comprises a front panel 11, rear panel means 12,, and binding and 'retaining strips 13 which hold opposite marginal edges of the front ;panel and of the back panel means together.

vAlso fin :all ,embodirnents 'of the invention illustrated, the distance betweenjthe parallel marginal edges of the back ,panel means Vis `greater -than the "corresponding distance ,for the front :panel so that When `the display device is set '-'up .for use, :as in F'IGUfR'ES :1, 4 and 6, the back panel means is bowed and holds the front panel 11 .taut. Obviously, of course, the front `-pane'l .11 may bear -any desired 'indicia, 'assuggested in FIGURE 1. Also, 4as .will be readily .understoocL the front panel can -be cut `out Aif desired `to create specialeifects, and to expose portions of the -backtpanel means which in .thatevent would 'likewise bear indicia to be displayed.

The 'front panel, and `also -the hback ;panel means are preferf-ab-ly formed -of .relatively stiff though reasonably flexible papenboard, and in all forms of the invention with` the 'exception `of that Fillustrated `in 'F-IGURE 5, the back panel means, like the .front panel, nis lone single unit or sheet.

In the case of the display-device shown in F-IGURE 5, the 'back panel means cornpr-ises a pair of complementary panel 'members 14-14'. The length of Veach `of these panel 4members from its 4outer edge 'which 'is connected from the back and illus'trating the manner `fin which .'it is set up forsuse;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating am'odified embodiment of this .'invention, which is 'characterized by the provision :of a ibracket 'integral with the back :panel of the 'display device;

'FIGURE 4A is a view on a considerably reduced scale of the display device shown in FIGURE 4, but illustrating the same in its knocked-down flat condition;

FIGURE 4B is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modification of part of the display device shown in FIGURE 4;

to the 'front panel to its 'free :inner edge .is ,greater ,than half the distance .between the opposite :parallel edges of the front panel. Hence., when :the free inner edge portions of the two panel members 14-14' .are secured together -as shown in FIGURE 5, they formone bowed member which functions 'in the vsame manner as the one piece :bowed back .panels of the other ernbodirnents of the invention. The panel .members 14-14' are separably connected by `means `of tongues 15 -and 16, `each projecting ;from one of the members 14-14' and inserted,

` rit 4is possible to knock down 'the display vdevice into its desired flat condition for storage and shipping.

The b-indin-g and lretaining strips '13 comprise thin metal Iban'ds bent and folded transversely in the nature of 'a stove pipe seam. As best seen in FIGURES 7 'and 8, each 'band thus has three superimposed Sections '19,'

and 21, the sections 19 and 21 being outermost and the section 2.0 being the middle section. The sections 19 and 20 are the marginal` portions of the band and, of course, the section 21 is formed by the medial portion of the band.

Where the edges of the front and rear panels are to be permanently secured together, as they are in FIG- URE 5, and as is the case in one of the edges of each of the other forms of the invention illustrated, the marginal portions of the front and back panels are wrapped around the edge of the middle section 20 and tightly confined between the middle section and the outer section 21.

In all forms of the invention with the excefption of that illustrated in FIGURE 5, in order to give the display device its desired knock-down characteristic, one of the two parallel edges of the back panel means must be detachably connected to the adjacent edge of the front panel. For this purpose, the binding and retainng strips 13 and their connections with the panels may be either as shown in FIGURE 7 or as in FIGURE 8. In the first of these two alternates, the marginal edge 23 of the front panel is tightly clamped between the Sections 20 and 21 of the band, but some space is left between the section 20 and the rear face of the front panel to accommodate the marginal edge of the back panel when the device is set up for use. Obviously, of course, the free edge of the back panel is simply tucked into this space between the section 20 and the rear face of the front panel.

Where greater facility in setting up the device and added assurance against disassembly is desired, the construction shown in FIGURE 8 may be employed. In this case, a flap 25 is secured in place along with the marginal edge portion 23 of the front panel by tightly squeezing the Sections 19, 20 and 21 of the binding and retainng strip together. This flap provides a relatively wide flange overlying the rear face of the front panel and under which the adjacent edge of the back panel lis readily inserted when the device is set up for use.

In those forms of the invention shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 5, the parallel marginal edges which are bound by the binding and retainng strips 13 are upright, but in the forms of the invention shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 these edges are horizontal. In the case of the construction shown in FIGURE 4, the display device is equipped with a bracket to support the same against tipping. This bracket is conveniently formed as an integral part of the back panel by simply cutting slits 31 into the back panel from its free edge toward its permanently bound edge, and by leaving the material between the two slits long enough to extend substantially beyond the free edge of the panel, as shown in FIG- URE 4A.

A marginal flap 32 defined from the bracket forming portion 30 by a bend line 33 is tucked |into the slot provided by the binding and retainng strip along with the free edge of the back panel, and a second fold line 34 facilitates folding the portion 30 upon itself, as shown in FIGURE 4, to give the supporting bracket its desired shape.

Another way of holding the .bracket forming portion 30 in its operative position is illustrated in FIGURE 4B. As here shown, the bracket forming portion 30 is T- shaped so that it has a head 45 on its extremity, the ends of which are notched as at 46 to have interengaging connection with notches 47 in the back panel. When these connections are established-it being understood that there is one at each side of the bracket-the end of the bracket forming portion is securely held against accidental detachment from the back panel.

The structure shown in FIGURE 6 enables the display device to be attached to a handle 35 by which it may be mounted for display or carried about like a placard. To

this end, the back panel has a hole 3:3 therein and a tongue 37 struck inwardly. The hole 36 is elongated and is so located that upon insertion of the handle 35 which is preferably a paper tube, the handle may be positioned parallel to the flat front panel with its upper open end 38 adjacent to the tongue 37 which is pushed down into the interior of the handle, as shown.

A feature of the display device of this invention is that it lends itself readily to illumination. For this purpose, the back panel has a hole 40 therein into which the socket 41 of an electric lamp may be inserted with the socket facing forwardly so that a bulb 42 screwed into the socket will be located between the front and rear panels.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that this invention provides a display device which, though inexpensively made is extremely attractive when set up for use and has the very desirable attribute of enabling the same to be stored and shipped flat or in a rolled condition.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. A display device comprising:

(A) a front panel of sheet material adapted to bear indicia to be displayed and having opposite parallel edges;

(B) a single back panel of substantially resilent sheet material having opposite parallel edges;

(C) stiff binding and retainng strips secured to said edges of the front panel and gripping said edges of the back panel;

(D) the distance between said opposite parallel edges of the back panel being greater than the corresponding distance for the front panel so that the back panel is bowed and the bowing thereof kceps the front zpanel stretched taut;

(E) one of said binding and retainng strips securing one of said edges of the back panel to the adjacent one of said edges of the front panel, the other of said edges of the back panel being a free edge and being removably held by the adjacent binding and retainng strip so that said free edge of the back panel may be detected from said adjacent binding and retainng strip to enable the back panel to be laid flat upon the front panel and thereby adapt the display device to being stored and shipped flat;

(F) said back panel having slits extending inwardly from its free edge toward its secured edge to define a bracket forming portion which extcnds beyond said free edge of the back panel when the panel is flat;

(G) a marginal flap on the outer extremity of said bracket forming portion detachably gripped by that binding and retainng strip which detachably holds the free edge of the back panel;

(H) and said bracket forming portion having a fold medially of its ends and parallel with its free edge whereby, when the marginal flap of said bracket forming portion is engaged with the adjacent binding and retainng strip, said bracket forming portion provides a support for the display device enabling the same to be set upon a surface with its front panel substantially upright and its said parallel edges disposed horizontally.

2. A display device comprising:

(A) a front panel of Sheet material adapted to bear indicia to be displayed and having opposite parallel edges;

(B) a single back panel of substantially resilent sheet material having opposite parallel edges;

(C) stif binding and retainng strips secured to said edges of the front panel and gripping said edges of the back panel;

(D) the distance between said opposite parallel edges of the back panel being greater than the corresponding distance for the front panel so that the back panel is bowed and the bowing t-hereof keeps the [front panel stretched taut; i

(E) one of said binding and retaining strips securing one of said edges of theback panel to the adjacent one of said edges of the front panel, the other of said edges of the back panel being a free edge and being removably held by the adjacent binding and retaining strip so that said free edge of the back panel may be detached from said adjacent binding and retaining strip to enable the back panel to be laid flat `upon the front panel `and thereby adapt the display device to being stored and shipped flat;

(F) said back panel having slits extending inwardly i from its free edge toward its secured edge to define a bracket forrning portion which extends beyond said free edge of the back panel When the panel is flat;

(G) the back panel having notches opening to said slits near the edge of the panel remote from the inner ends of the slits; a

(H) and the bracket forrning portionihaving notches in the side edges of its free end to interengage With those in the back panel, and thereby connect the free end of the briacket forming' portion to the back panel, whereby the bracket forming portion may be shaped as required to support the ldisplay device with its front panel substantially upright and resting on one of its said parallel edges.

References Cited by the Examincr UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1952 Italy.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examner.

JEROME SCHNALL, Examner. 

2. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A FRONT PANEL OF SHEET MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BEAR INDICIA TO BE DISPLAYED AND HAVING OPPOSITE PARALLEL EDGES; (B) A SINGLE BACK PANEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL HAVNG OPPOSITE PARALLEL EDGES; (C) STIFF BINDING AND RETAINING STRIPS SECURED TO SAID EDGES OF THE FRONT PANEL AND GRIPPING SAID EDGES OF THE BACK PANEL; (D) THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE PARALLEL EDGES OF THE BACK PANEL BEING GREATER THAN THE CORRESPONDING DISTANCE FOR THE FRONT PANEL SO THAT THE BACK PANEL IS BOWED AND THE BOWING THEREOF KEEPS THE FRONT PANEL STRETCHED TAUT; (E) ONE OF SAID BINDING AND RETAINING STRIPS SECURING ONE OF SAID EDGES OF THE BACK PANEL TO THE ADJACENT ONE OF SAID EDGES OF THE FRONT PANEL, THE OTHER OF SAID EDGES OF THE BACK PANEL BEING A FREE EDGE AND BEING REMOVABLY HELD BY THE ADJACENT BINDING AND RETAINING STRIP SO THAT SAID FREE EDGE OF THE BACK PANEL MAY BE DETACHED FROM SAID ADJACENT BINDING AND RETAINING STRIP TO ENABLE THE BACK PANEL TO BE LAID FLAT UPON THE FRONT PANEL AND THEREBY ADAPT THE DISPLAY DEVICE TO BEING STORED AND SHIPPED FLAT; (F) SAID BACK PANEL HAVING SLITS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ITS FREE EDGE TOWARD ITS SECURED EDGE TO DEFINE A BRACKET FORMING PORTION WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND SAID FREE EDGE OF THE BACK PANEL WHEN THE PANEL IS FLAT; (G) THE BACK PANEL HAVING NOTCHES OPENING TO SAID SLITS NEAR THE EDGE OF THE PANEL REMOT FROM THE INNER ENDS OF THE SLITS; (H) AND THE BRACKET FORMING PORTION HAVING NOTCHES IN THE SIDE EDGES OF ITS FREE END TO INTERENGAGE WITH THOSE IN THE BACK PANEL, AND THEREBY CONNECT THE FREE END OF THE BRACKET FORMING PORTION TO THE BACK PANEL, WHEREBY THE BRACKET FORMING PORTION MAY BE SHAPED AS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE DISPLAY DEVICE WITH ITS FRONT PANEL SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT AND RESTING ON ONE OF ITS SAID PARALLEL EDGES. 